| NOTE FROM THE ALIAS COLLECTIVE: We are sorry to report that Mary Francis has passed away. She was always challenging to those in authority and will be especially missed by people she often went out of her way to help when she had the means. We think that if she'd had some parting words for those who are responsible for finding solutions to problems such as homelessness and poverty in Canadian society, those words most likely would have been: "Are you listening, dear? You're not listening to me!" ============================ IF I COULD BE SET FREE If I could be set free, what would I be? If I could leave the earth, what would I be? If I could see a storm, where would I go? If I could be a child again, where would I come from and where would I stay? If I could come from the sea, what would I be? If I could be a bird of beauty, what would I be? If I could dance on the wind, what could I see? If I could climb into a tree, what would you say to me? If I could swim long distance, what would I be? If I could see a sparrow's nest, where would you take me to? If I was a nothing, what would I be? And if you could see what I see, what would you say? If I could be an angel, what would you say I was? - Michelle Caron ======================== Safe Park It began as a Safe Park, Where the homeless could safely rest after dark. A place where the homeless would be safe from the cops, A place where the harassment and the beatings would stop. It was set in Allen Gardens, a beautiful place, And to the homeless, a popular space. Aug. 7/99 dawned sunny and bright, As OCAP began to set up for the night. Blue tarps, food tables and tents of every size, Decked out in bright colours to please the eyes. Blankets, sleeping bags and even a hammock, As we dined on a meal of venison, fish and bannock. The park opened with music and song, Everyone hoped the stay would be long. Mel said, "I'll make those campers go away", The campers said, "hell no, we're going to stay." They all said, "there are no beds, We have no place to lay our heads." They vowed to stay until the Fall, When they planned to go to Ottawa. Two and a half days passed without trouble, But, on Aug. 10/99, the cops burst their bubble. Five divisions invaded the park, With Parks and Rec while it was still dark. Walking under the tarps, waking people up, Ordering everyone to pack up. Then the police got violent, it really got rough, Lastman said he'd had enough. Wrestling people to the ground, 4 people were hurt, Grabbing them by pants and shirts. 27 people were arrested, they were taken away, Destined for Bail Court that very same day. One woman miscarried, one man killed himself, It seems human decency was put on the shelf. People's possessions were taken to the Lakeshore, There was no sign of the campers anymore. I saw the story on TV, and went to the camp, The sprinklers were on, making the ground damp. The police caused much suffering and unnecessary pain, We can't allow this to happen again. The camp is gone, but this is not over, It is something from which the homeless will never recover, Lastman and Harris, this is not the end, We'll camp in a park again. If you want a revolution, that's what you'll get, This is something we'll never forget. Be assured that we will bring you down, We will bring human decency back to this town. Bonnie ========================================= The Fuller Brush Man 1930's-40's by Dorothy B. Thompson Now here's a thing you won't see anymore. Fuller Brush man knocked on every door. He'd carried with him every brush you'd need. A huge supply of brushes, yes indeed! Plus he had suds to get your clothes all clean. Hairbrushes that might spank if kids are mean. He had some stuff with which to get out spots. And lots of lollipops for little tots. In those days we were glad each time he came. He knew us well and called us by our name. Before T.V. such visits were quite fun. While Mom was buying stuff some tales were spun. The Fuller Brush man told some jokes each time. And Mom would serve her ade made out of lime. He made his sales and we were entertained. It was his job, but everybody gained. Such little things brought happiness back then Sometimes I'd like to go back once again! ========================================== CAN'T YOU SEE, TONIGHT the slum children playing as if six wolves through the streets the shadows suggest so, telling of snarls and the kind of wrestling where blood gets loose and smears to the disconcert of snapping & growling going on way until the moon must break in half because there's no clear gong - ill their jackets are scattered about like an overdose past the mortar-crumbled buildings of brick till they've exposed their furry bodies like make-believe and movement is muscles & sinews struggling where sleep is useless because parents were never and family only for those other-side-of-towners and tomorrow very doubtful is standing naked on some porchstoop with ashes for a face leaving "Jesus" to mumble to himself - Jim DeWitt ===================================== =THE VISIT= Now at last they've stopped trying to make him say how he feels because she didn't come and he waited in the playroom at the Aid for an hour and other kids' mothers came and his didn't it wasn't her fault because maybe she's sick or Joe beat her up when he was drunk like that time he tried to hide Joe's bottle so he couldn't drink and he took the belt to him and some nosy neighbour called the cops and the Aid came and took him away and all the questions and now he has to live with Linda and Bruce and their kids they're O.K. but it isn't his family he doesn't belong why didn't his mum come this morning that stupid kid who kept riding the tricycle into the castle he was building while he waited the kid's mum came and not his but she really loves him it's all the Aid's fault maybe she'll forget him why can't she be like other mums and not just sit there letting the Aid take her kid why does she let Joe stay and not him now the stupid ball keeps missing the net and rolling under the foster parents' car and his eyes are burning and prickling and he doesn't want to cry and let Linda and her sucky kids see he picks up a screwdriver from the workbench in the garage and laughs at the big chunks of blue paint that roll off as he gouges the fender of Bruce and Linda's new toyota - Joan McGuire ============================================= Lifebulb When the rules change You should try to change with them That's why we had to split the wedding dishes And bury our rings in a box... No matter how hard I try It can't be turned on Everything's been shaken too hard And the filament that makes the light - Is now two pieces That can't come together - Kevin Nickerson ==================================== THE NARROWING VIEW It's what Irene sees out her kitchen window from where she sits at an angle. All day she shuffles her cards she eats her meals and chews her nails. She gazes out the window with such longing at all her precious shrinking memories. MARCH 1999 Like a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces, political lines divide up our earth while unrelenting cultures grow, and shove and overlap making primordial monsters of us all - Pheryne Williams Thatcher ================================ |
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